The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Momento arrived in 2025 as part of Gissah's Signature Collection, a line of fragrances that brings its own mood to the catalogue. It sits alongside Capri, Vesta, and Akoya, each composition offering a distinct character rather than echoing the others. The fragrance leans into resin, wood, and smoke, building a leathery, caramel-laced profile that feels deliberate in its roughness. Where some Gissah releases lean toward heavier, more opulent territory, Momento carves a different path, trading density for a composition that holds its edges with intention. Part of the Signature Collection line, it reads as its own statement, shaped by the interplay of labdanum, guaiac wood, and a leather accord that anchors the whole structure.
Momento distinguishes itself through its note composition. The opening builds on labdanum and guaiac wood, two resinous materials that create density and warmth without overwhelming the senses. Indonesian patchouli grounds the heart with earthy depth, while raspberry introduces a fruity counterpoint that gives the fragrance its tension. The base commits to caramel and a clean leather accord, creating a gourmand-leather hybrid that reads as modern in its construction.
The evolution
The first 30 minutes are all smoke. Labdanum and guaiac wood arrive dense and balsamic, the kind of resinous weight that fills a room before you've moved. There's a faint fruit underneath, raspberry pressing up through the wood, but it stays quiet early on. By the second hour, the patchouli takes over, earthy and slightly damp, pulling the composition downward while the raspberry finally emerges, tart and dark against the leather. The caramel arrives around the three-hour mark, slow and sticky, blending with the leather accord into something that feels lived-in and warm. The drydown settles into a warm leather-woody blend that holds close to skin, the resins and woods softening into a close-wearing finish. What lingers longest is the leather, dry and slightly sweet, maintaining its presence well into the late hours.
Cultural impact
Momento's composition marks a noticeable shift in Gissah's catalogue. The fragrance omits oud from its structure, relying instead on labdanum, guaiac wood, raspberry, patchouli, caramel, and leather to build its profile. This departure from oud-centric construction gives the scent a different character, one that leans into the interplay between resinous depth and gourmand sweetness. Wearers and reviewers have noted the composition as less oudy and more sweetness-forward, describing a fragrance that reads as accessible compared to heavier, more resin-driven releases.
